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Microlesson · 5-min read

Scope & Year of Chargeability [Section 45(1), 45(1A), 45(2), 45(5)]

## Scope and Year of Chargeability [Section 45]

Section 45 fixes when a capital gain becomes taxable. The general rule is taxation in the year of transfer, but four special situations shift the year of charge and the FVC.

### 1. General Provision [Section 45(1)]

  • Applicability: Profits/gains on transfer of a capital asset during the previous year are taxable.
  • Year of taxability: Year of transfer — based on the date of sale, NOT the date of agreement.
  • Indexation: Cost of acquisition can be indexed up to the year of transfer only.

### 2. Destruction of capital asset + insurance compensation [Section 45(1A)]

  • Applicability: Money or other assets received under insurance due to damage/destruction of a capital asset — treated as a transfer.
  • Year of taxability: Year of receiving the consideration from the insurance company.
  • FVC: Amount received, or the FMV of the assets on the date of receipt.
  • Indexation: Available up to the year of destruction only.

### 3. Conversion of capital asset into stock-in-trade [Section 45(2)]

  • Applicability: When the owner converts a capital asset into SIT for business — treated as a transfer in the year of conversion.
  • Year of taxability: Year of sale of the SIT (both Capital Gains and PGBP income become taxable in that year).
  • FVC: FMV of the capital asset on the date of conversion.
  • Indexation: Available up to the year of conversion.
  • Business income: Profit/Loss = Sale price of SIT − FMV on date of conversion.

### 4. Compulsory acquisition [Section 45(5)]

  • Applicability: Capital asset acquired by the Central Government under compulsory acquisition — treated as a transfer.
  • Original compensation: Taxable in the year of receipt of the compensation.
  • Enhanced compensation: Where a court awards higher compensation, the enhanced amount is taxable in the year of its receipt. COA and COI for the enhanced compensation = NIL.
  • Interim compensation: Not taxable when received; taxable in the year the final compensation is determined.
  • Reduction in enhanced compensation: If later reduced by a court/tribunal/authority, the capital gains of that year are recomputed via rectification.
  • Death of transferor: If the transferor dies before receiving enhanced compensation, it is taxable in the hands of the recipient.

Memory hook: The trigger of transfer and the year of tax can differ — conversion to SIT is transferred at conversion but taxed at sale; insurance/compulsory acquisition are taxed when money is received; indexation is always frozen at the year of the triggering event (transfer / destruction / conversion).

Worked example

### Example 1

Conversion into SIT [45(2)]: A converts land (FMV ₹40 lakh on conversion date in FY 2022-23) into stock-in-trade, then sells it for ₹55 lakh in FY 2024-25. Capital gains are computed using FVC = ₹40 lakh (FMV on conversion), indexed up to FY 2022-23, but taxed in FY 2024-25 (year of sale). Business income = ₹55 lakh − ₹40 lakh = ₹15 lakh, also taxed in FY 2024-25.

### Example 2

Enhanced compensation [45(5)]: Land is compulsorily acquired; original compensation ₹20 lakh received in FY 2021-22 (taxed then). A court awards enhanced compensation of ₹8 lakh received in FY 2024-25. The ₹8 lakh is taxable in FY 2024-25 with COA = NIL and COI = NIL.

### Example 3

Insurance on destruction [45(1A)]: A factory building is destroyed by fire in FY 2023-24; the insurer pays ₹50 lakh in FY 2024-25. The gain is taxable in FY 2024-25 (year of receipt), with FVC = ₹50 lakh and indexation of cost available up to FY 2023-24 (year of destruction).

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Using the date of agreement instead of the date of sale to fix the year of transfer under 45(1).
  • Taxing conversion into SIT in the year of conversion — the gain is taxed in the year the SIT is actually sold.
  • Indexing cost up to the year of sale of SIT instead of up to the year of conversion.
  • Claiming COA/COI against enhanced compensation under 45(5) — both are NIL.
  • Treating interim compensation as taxable when received — it is taxed only when the final compensation is determined.
Reference: Section 45(1), 45(1A), 45(2), 45(5) — Income-tax Act, 1961
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